June 2025 Newsletter: When Outdoor Installations Aren’t Properly Earthed
South Africa’s Storm Season: A Time to Review Your Protection Systems
With winter storms intensifying across the country, incidents of lightning-related damage are once again on the rise. While most homeowners and business owners are aware of the risks posed by direct lightning strikes, many underestimate the vulnerability of outdoor electrical systems — especially gate motors and external plug points.
These components often sit outside the protected envelope of your building and, when not properly earthed, can become entry points for destructive electrical surges. The damage can be extensive, costly, and completely avoidable.
Case Spotlight: Real-World Damage from Improper Grounding
In a recent inspection, our team encountered a property where both a gate motor and several outdoor plugs were severely damaged following a lightning strike. The strike didn’t hit the building directly, but travelled through external wiring and unprotected circuits.
The root cause?
No grounding rod near the gate motor
Outdoor plug points were installed without a proper earth connection
No surge protection for external power feeds
The result was a fried gate controller, blackened plug points, and thousands of rands in equipment replacement and repair. All of which could have been prevented by a well-designed earthing and surge protection system.
Why Outdoor Systems Need Dedicated Protection
While many buildings have lightning protection systems or surge arrestors at the DB board, these do not automatically protect outdoor systems. Lightning can (and often does) travel through:
Gate motors and intercom wiring
Outdoor plug points and lighting circuits
Electric fences and automated irrigation systems
Solar PV system cables and inverters
These systems must be integrated into a comprehensive earthing network — otherwise, they serve as open doors to high-voltage surges during storms.
How BoltGuard Helps
At BoltGuard, we specialise in protecting your entire property — not just the main building. Our services include:
✅ Lightning Protection Design & Installation
Tailored solutions for residential, commercial, and industrial sites using SANS-compliant methods.
✅ Earthing System Installation & Testing
From earth rods to grids, we measure and verify low-resistance paths to safely discharge voltage.
✅ Surge Protection Devices (SPDs)
Installed at key electrical entry points, including gate motors, solar systems, and outdoor sockets.
✅ Full Site Assessments & Reporting
We provide detailed inspections with compliance reporting and recommendations for improvements.
Did You Know?
A lightning strike can carry up to 1 billion volts of electricity. Even if it doesn’t hit your home directly, nearby strikes can cause induced surges through external systems.
Proper grounding is not optional — it’s a first line of defence against storm-related damage.
Contact Us
Contact Details
Email: solutions@boltguard.co.za
Tel : +27 71 011 9343
Operating Hours
Monday to Friday
8h00 – 16h00
